Parts washer



N 14, 1967 R. E. DOYSCHER 3,352,310:

PARTS WASHER Filed March 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'INVENTQR ROBE/P7" E DOKSCf/E'R BY QM a m ATTORNEY Nov. 14, 1967 R. E. DOYSCHER PARTS WASHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1965 jg/ TTORNEY United States Patent Ofitice 3,352,310 Patented Nov. 14, 1967 3,352,310 PARTS WASHER Robert E. Doyscher, 1335 Edgerton St., t. Paul, Minn. 55104 Filed Mar. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 439,702 4 Claims. (Cl. 13456) This invention relates to an improvement in parts washing apparatus and deals particularly with a device useful in the cleaning of automotive parts and the like.

Many machine parts such as parts of vehicles driven by internal combustion engines, often collected dirt and grease during periods of use. When it becomes necessary to replace or repair a part of a device, it is common practice to wash the parts through the use of a suitable solvent before replacing them in the assembly. To facilitate this operation, parts washers have been produced capable of supporting the parts while they are being sprayed with the solvent. These washers usually collect a thick sludge in the solvent reservoir, making it necessary to clean the reservoir at frequent intervals. Furthermore, the solvent is usually pumped from the reservoir to a spray nozzle by an electric motor driven pump. Pumps quickly wear out because of the nature of the material being pumped, and the pump filters get plugged up and must be changed at short intervals. The combination of dirt, grease and solvent, often times has a deleterious effect upon the electric motor and the insulation of the wiring to the motor. As a result, Washers of this type have been a frequent cause of fires, which may be of a very serious nature in view of the fact that such establishments often have quantities of high volatile and inflammable materials near at hand.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a parts washer for the purpose described, which is safe and relatively fool-proof. Most garages and other places of business where internal combustions are repaired, are equipped with compressed air systems which are used to inflate tires and for other purposes. The present invention resides in the provision of a parts washer which employs compressed air as a means of circulating the solvent used in washing the parts.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a parts washer which includes a tray which may be used to support the parts being washed, a receptacle enclosing the parts supporting tray and into which the liquid used in cleaning the parts may drop, and a reservoir designed to contain the solvent being circulated. An air valve is connected to the air supply line and is pivotally movable from open to closed position. When in open position, air under pressure is directed to the reservoir, this pressure forcing liquid through a suitable outlet pipe to the nozzle or spray used to direct the solvent toward the parts being washed. This valve also includes an air vent which opens the interior of the reservoir to atmosphere when the air supply valve is closed. Thus, as soon as the air supply is turned oil, the air pressure within the reservoir is vented off, stopping the further flow of washing liquid.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of' an automatically operable dump valve between the liquid catching receptacle and the reservoir. This dump valve, in preferred form, includes a spring supported plate at the bottom of the discharge passage, the spring supporting the plate having just enough resiliency to support the weight of the plate. When air pressure is introduced into the reservoir below the plate, the pressure thus produced acts to move the valve into closed position so that the air pressure may be built up within the reservoir. As soon as the pressure within the reservoir is vented, the weight of the liquid in the receptacle overlying the reservoir, will open the valve allowing the liquid to drain into the reservoir.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a screen encircling the dump valve and through which the cleaning liquid may flow in order to enter the dump valve. This screen filters the liquid entering the dump valve and prevents the dirt and other impurities from passing through into the reservoir.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a wall encircling the dump valve, which extends from the bottom of the receptacle to a point spaced from the bottom, the screen extending upwardly from this wall. The imperforated wall prevents all of the liquid in the receptacle from draining back to the reservoir, and as a result provides a sludge collecting area at the bottom of the fluid receiving receptacle. Because of this arrangement, most of the dirt and similar impurities collect as a sludge in the bottom of the fluid receiving receptacle, from which area may be scooped out at a necessary interval.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a simple device which can be produced at a fraction of the cost of most such parts washers, and which still is fully as effective as most such prior devices.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully setforth in the following specification and claims. I

In the drawings forming a part of thespecification;

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the parts washer in readiness for use.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing the air vent in closed position.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view through the air vent showing the construction thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view through the parts washed shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of a portion of the air supply valve showing the manner in which it is operated.

In general, the unit includes a reservoir which is indicated in general by the letter A, a fluid receiving tank which is indicated in general by the letter B and a parts tray which is indicated in general by the letter C. The reservoir A forms the stand for the receptacle B and the tray C is supported within the receptacle B to support parts which are to be washed.

The reservoir A is shown as comprising a cylindrical container having a cylindrical wall 10, a bottom closure 11 and a top closure 12. An aperture 13 is provided near the lower end of the reservoir which is normally closed by an externally threaded plug 14. The aperture 13 forms a means of draining the receptacle when suflicient sludge is build up in the reservoir to warrant cleaning.

In actual practice, the reservoir 10 comprises a small barrel which is of the prop-er height to support the receptacle B. The reservoir A is air-tight and accordingly is capable of sustaining air under pressure.

The receptacle B comprises a generally rectangular open-topped tank having a front wall 15, a rear wall 16, and spaced end walls 17 connecting the ends of the front wall 15 and rear wall 16. An outwardly directed co-planar flange 19 preferably encircles the upper edge of the receptacle B and is preferably doubled to present a rounded outer edge.

Barrels or steel drums of the type used to form the reservoir A are normally provided with a relatively small diameter opening 20- and a larger diameter opening 21. These internally threaded apertures 20 and 21 are used in attaching the receptacle B to the upper end of the reservoir A. An internally threaded hollow plug 22 having an enlarged head 23 extends through an aperture 24 in the bottom panel 25 of the receptacle and into the aperture 20 to hold the parts assembled. The sealing ring 26 is provided between the bottom panel and the top end 12 of the reservoir 8.

A larger diameter plug 27 having an enlarged end 29 is inserted through an aperture 30 in the receptacle bottom 25 and into the larger diameter opening 21 to assist in hold the reservoir A and receptacle B assembled. The plug 27 also extends through a circular disk 31 overlying the bottom panel 25, and having a cylindrical upwardly extending peripheral flange 32. Sealing rings 33 are interposed between the bottom panel 25 and the reservoir top 12 encircling. the plug 27 and sealing gaskets 34 are also provided between the plug head 29 and the disk 31, and

the disk 31 and the bottom panel 25 to form an effective seal.

A filter screen 35 is supported within the flange 32, and an imperforate top closure 36 closes the upper end of the cylindrical screen 35. A pin 37 extends across the axial passage 39 through the hollow plug 27 and supports a coil spring 40. The lower end of the spring 40 is attached to the center of a disk 41 having a disk 42 of leather or resilient material which is designed to seal :against the lower end of the plug. The arrangement is such that the spring 40 normally supports the valve 41,

'42, in slightly open position and sufliciently close to the I lower end of the plug 27 so that the valve will close when the interior of the reservoir A is subjected to air pressure. Alternatively, the spring 40 may support the disks 41, 42, in sealing position but will open when liquid is present within the plug 27 and when the interior of the reservoir A'is at substantially atmospheric pressure.

The reservoir A is provided near its lower end with an additionalinternally threaded opening 43 designed to accommodate a fitting 44 to which is secured a pipe 45. The pipe 45 extends vertically along the rear panel 16 of the receptacle B through the flange 19. A flexible tube 48 is connected to the upper end of the pipe 45, and the tube 48 is provided with a nozzle 46 at its end.

A pipe 47 is threaded into the plug 22 and supports an air valve which is indicated in general by the numeral 49. A T fitting 50 is secured to the pipe 47, the pipe 47 being attached to one end of the cross member of the T. The stem 51 of the T is connected by a nipple.52 to the outlet passage 53 of the valve 49. The inlet 54 of the valve 49 is connected by a nipple 48 to an air-supply pipe 55, which extends through the wall of the receptacle B and is connected to a pressure regulating valve 56 indicated in FIGURE 1. The pressure. regulating valve is supplied with air under pressure by a supply line which usually is connected to an air pressure tank of the typeusually found in garages and machine shops, and which may be used for a great number of purposes, such as inflating tires :and operating air-operatedmachine tools.

The valve 49 includes a valve seat 57 and the valve .59 is movable toward and away from the valve seat to open and close the valve. The valve element 59 is normal- .ly urged toward closed position by a spring 60 which is interposed between the valve 59 and the removable cap 61 attached to the valve body. A valve plunger 62 is re- .ciprocal through the cap 61 for operating the valve.

A camsegment '63 is pivotally connected at 64 to the valve stem 62 and is engageable with the upper end of the valve cap 61. The segment ,63 is pivotal through an angle of substantially 90 degrees, and when in the position shown in FIGURE '2 of the, drawing, holds the valve 59 in open position while in the position shown in FIGURE 3 holds the valve 59 in closed position under pressure of the spring 60. The cam 63 is attached to an operating arm 65, which in turn is connected to a parallel weight arm 66. A generally U-shaped yoke 67 connects the operating arm 65 and the weight arm 66 at a point spaced from the ends thereof, and this yoke 67 provides a means of limiting the pivotal movement of the arms. An L- shaped plate 69 is secured to the body of the valve 49 to extend upwardly therefrom, and the yoke 67 engages .a cross-arm 68 at the upper .end of the plate 69 when the valve is in closed position as indicated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. The other end 70 of the yoke 67 is engageable with the upper surface of a lever arm 71 in the open position of the valve as indicated in FIGUPE 2 of the drawings.

The lever 71 is provided intermediate its ends with an aperture 72 which freely accommodates the upper portion of the valve cap 61, allowing the lever 71 to pivot to some extent using a portion of the cap 61 as a fulcrum. A valve disk of leather or resilient material is indicated at 73 overlying the upper end of the cross member of the T fitting 50 which is indicated by the numeral 74. A locating pin 75 extends through the arm 71 and the valve disk 73 reservoir A when the valve 49 is in the closed position illustrated in FIGURE 3. A weight 77 is provided on the weight arm 66. The purpose of the weight 77 is to cause the lower end 70 of the yoke 67 to bear against the lever 71 in order to urge the valve disk 73 againstthe upper end of the T.

A tray or pan .79 is freely supported in the upper portion of the receptacle Bby supporting pins 80 extending through the end walls 17 of the receptacle. The tray 79 may be lifted from the receptacle for cleaning or for emptying. The tray 79 is of somewhat smaller .dimensions than the receptacle B so that the cleaning liquid may flow about the edges of the tray and into the bottom portion of the receptacle.

The valve 49 is moved from open to closed position by means of a crank arm 81 which projects through one of the end walls 17 and is provided with an angnlarly turned end 82 which may be grasped to turn the rod 81 through.

an angnlarly distance of degrees. The rod 81 extends through an aperture in the plate 69 which serves as a bearing for the rod and then extends at right angles. as indicated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings at 83 and is then again bent at right angles to provide an offset end 84 which extends through the operating arm 65 of the valve 49. The offset end portions of the rod act as a crank to swing the operating arm 65 and the attached weight arm 66 from one extreme position to the other.

In operation, the reservoir Ais filled to a desired level with a cleaning fluid useful in cleaning dirt and grease and oil from machine parts. The pressure valve 56 is connected to a source of compressed air. When it is desired to use the device, the crank arm 81 is pivoted through 90 degrees to swing the valve 49 from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to the open position shown in FIGURE 2.

This operation permits air from the source of supply to pass into the valve body through the intake 54, past the valve 59 and through the outlet nipple 52. The air passes through the T connection 50 and down through the pipe 47 to the interior of the reservoir A. Air under pressure within the reservoir A acts to force the cleaning liquid up through the pipe 45 and the nozzle 46 permitting the. parts to be cleaned.

It will be noted that during this operation, the weight 77 is acting through the yoke 67 to exert a force upon the lever 71 holding the valve disk 73 against the upper end of theT connection 50 thus closing the T from atmosphere.

The lever 71 and weight 77 actually serve as a safety valve, for if abnormal pressures built up within the reservoir A, this pressure may force the valve disk 73 away from the T fitting and allow the escape of some of the air.

As soon as air under pressure is introduced to the interior of thereservoir A, the dump valve disk 40, 41 is closed against the lower end of the hollow plug 21 holding this valve closed. As long as the liquid is flowing into i the receptacle B, the dump valve remains closed.

Devices of this type are used intermittently rather than continuously, and obviously the flow of liquid must be stopped after the level of liquid in the receptacle B raises to a predetermined extent. At the end of the cleaning operation, the crank rod 81 is rotated to its original position, swinging the valve 49 into closed position and raising the operating arm and weight arm into the position shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawings.

As soon as the valve 49 is closed, and the weight is lifted from the lever 71, the lever 71 is free to swing upwardly to the extent necessary to vent the air pressure from the interior of the reservoir A. As the pressure within the reservoir is vented, the dump valve 40, 41 opens to permit the cleaning liquid in the receptacle B to drain back into the reservoir A. The draining of the receptacle B requires but little time due to the dimensions of the dump valve.

It will be noted that, due to the upwardly extending flange 32 on the disk 31, not all of the cleaning fluid will drain back through the filter screen 35 into the reservoir A. The purpose of this arrangement is to permit the dirt and sludge to separate by gravity from the cleaning fluid. After a period of use, depending upon the nature of the cleaning operations, the tray 79 is removed and the sludge collected in the bottom of the receptacle B removed through the use of a suitable scoop or similar instrument.

When it is desired to completely clean the apparatus and change the cleaning fluid, the air valve is turned to the on position shown in FIGURE 2, and the fluid is forced from the reservoir A through the pipe 45, the flexible tube 48 and the nozzle 46 into a pail or bucket not shown in the drawings. This procedure is followed until the reservoir A is substantially emptied. The plug 14 and the fitting 44 are then removed, and the reservoir A is flushed out with a suitable cleaning material. The plug and fitting are then replaced, and the reservoir is refilled with the necessary cleaning fluid. While empty, the filter screen 35 and the receptacle B are also thoroughly cleaned so that when new cleaning fluid is added, the apparatus functions as though it were a new unit.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in parts washer, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A parts washing apparatus including a fluid reservoir, a receptacle, a drain passage connecting said receptacle to said reservoir, and a fluid conduit connected to said reservoir and terminating above said receptacle, a source of air under pressure, a conduit connecting said air supply to said reservoir, an air valve in said conduit a pivotal arm supported by said valve for moving said valve between open and closed positions, a vent in said conduit between said valve and said reservoir, a normally open vent valve pivotal between a normally open position in which said vent is open, to a closed position in which said vent is closed, said pivotal arm being engageable with said vent valve when said air valve is open to hold said vent valve closed.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said pivotal arm is weighted to rest upon said vent valve.

3. A parts washer including a fluid reservoir, a washing receptacle, a source of air under pressure, a conduit leading from said reservoir to a point above said reeeptacle, and an air line extending from said air source to said reservoir, an air valve in said air line including a valve seat, a valve element supported for movement toward and away from said valve seat, an arm pivotally supported by said valve and connected to said valve element to reciprocate the same, said arm including a weighted free end and said arm being pivotal from an upright position in which said valve is closed to a generally hori zontal position in which said valve is open, a vent opening in said air line between said valve and said reservoir spaced laterally from said valve, a pivotally supported vent valve operable in one pivotal position to close said vent valve and in another pivotal position to open said vent valve, said vent valve being in the path of movement of said pivotal arm, said arm, when in generally horizontal position, engaging said vent valve to hold said vent valve closed.

4. The structure of claim 3 and in which said vent valve is supported by a generally horizontal lever pivoted intermediate its ends, said lever having said vent valve near one end thereof and a counterweight on its other end.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,215,018 9/1940 Schmitt 13456 2,438,654 3/1948 Albertson 1341 11 2,484,149 10/1949 Bousky 134-111 2,644,472 7/1953 Ward 134-111 X 2,897,830 8/1959 Palmer 134111 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

R, L. BLEUTGE, Examiner, 

1. A PARTS WASHING APPARATUS INCLUDING A FLUID RESERVOIR, A RECEPTACLE, A DRAIN PASSAGE CONNECTING SAID RECEPTACLE TO SAID RESERVOIR, AND A FLUID CONDUIT CONNECTED TO SAID RESERVOIR AND TERMINATING ABOVE SAID RECEPTACLE, A SOURCE OF AIR UNDER PRESSURE, A CONDUIT CONNECTING SAID AIR SUPPLY TO SAID RESERVOIR, AN AIR VALVE IN SAID CONDUIT A PIVOTAL ARM SUPPORTED BY SAID VALVE FOR MOVING SAID VALVE BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, A VENT IN SAID CONDUIT BETWEEN SAID VALVE AND SAID RESERVOIR, A NORMALLY OPEN VENT VALVE PIVOTAL BETWEEN A NORMALLY OPEN POSITION IN WHICH SAID VENT IS OPEN, TO A CLOSED POSITION IN WHICH SAID VENT IS CLOSED, SAID PIVOTAL ARM BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID VENT VALVE WHEN SAID AIR VALVE IS OPEN TO HOLD SAID VENT VALVE CLOSED. 